Green Bay Packers: Allen Lazard makes big push for final 53

As we enter the final weeks of the preseason, Allen Lazard is making a strong push for the Green Bay Packers’ final 53-man roster.

Even before the offseason programs began, we knew that the battle for the final spots on the Green Bay Packers’ depth chart at receiver was going to be a highly contested one. However, I can’t imagine anyone at that time thought one of those receivers would be Allen Lazard.

The second-year receiver out of Iowa State put together a fantastic college career where he would total over 3,300 yards on 241 receptions with 10 touchdowns. Undrafted, he spent most of the 2018 season on the Jacksonville Jaguars practice squad before the Green Bay Packers plucked him up for the remainder of the season.

What was initially a slow start to Training Camp for Lazard has blossomed into a real chance at making the 53-man roster. His 6’5″ frame makes him a big target for quarterbacks and he’s slimmed down over the offseason to become more explosive. But perhaps Lazard’s best attribute has been his reliability.

We all know how important it is to Aaron Rodgers that he trusts his receivers if he’s going to throw them the ball, and so far Lazard has shown Rodgers that he can be relied upon:

"“The key is, being reliable and earning my (Rodgers) trust. I think Allen has had a really nice camp.”"

Up to this point, Lazard has been able to carry his performances on the practice field over to the Packers’ first two preseason games where he’s hauled in four catches, one of which was for a touchdown against Houston.

We’ve also seen Lazard’s explosiveness and ability to create yards after the catch as he’s totaled 90 receiving yards which leads the team and three of his four receptions have gone for more than 20 yards.

After practice earlier this week, Rodgers once again had nothing but praise for Lazard:

"“I think he’s had a really nice camp. He’s made a bunch of plays. He’s always showing up on special teams. He does things the right way at practice. He’s put himself into a position to be playing for all 32 teams.”"

Lazard has gotten the attention of QB1, he continues to make plays on offense, and he’s been very good on special teams, however, there are only so many spots to go around at the receiver position.

The thought of many – and I agree –  is that Green Bay will keep only six receivers this season. And as of now, five of those spots seem accounted for by Davante Adams, Geronimo Allison, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Jake Kumerow, and Equanimeous St. Brown.

That leaves Darrius Shepherd, Trevor Davis, J’Mon Moore, and Lazard all fighting for that one final spot. With that said, out of this group it has been Lazard and Shepherd that have put together the best performances through the preseason and neither appears that far off from making the final roster.

Although it is still an uphill battle for Lazard, he has put himself in an excellent position for the final stretch of the preseason and if he continues to play this way, he is going to make keeping him off the roster a very difficult decision for Brian Gutekunst and Matt LaFleur.